The ancient Greeks probably knew better than anyone else, the true meaning of "Balance of Body and Mind," as tangibly expressed in terms of supreme physical health, supreme mental happiness and supreme achievements along the highway of human progress. They even believed that the soul itself is inextricably bound up with the physical functions and mental manifestations of the human body.
They fully understood that the nearer one's physique approached the state of physical perfection, the nearer one's mind approached the state of mental perfection.
They knew that the simultaneous and co-equal development of one's ability voluntarily to control one's body and mind was a paramount law of nature and that the unequal (abnormal or subnormal) development of either the body or the mind, or the neglect of either or both, would result in the complete failure to realize the very first law of civilization - (preservation of life) - the attainment and maintenance of one's bodily and mental perfection. Failing realization of this desirable aim, the body would become, as it were, an "'enemy" of the mind and vice versa, whereas the mind should become as it were, a "friend" of the body and vice versa.
Unlike so many of our fellowmen of today, the Greeks religiously practiced what they preached, as witness the marvelous state of their achieved physical perfection as reflected in their wonderful statues.
Did you ever try to get down on the floor from a straight to a sitting position? Try it. Having trouble? Of course you are, because there is a lack of coordination. Note the pictures on this page showing through Contrology the grace with which this can be done. Note the perfect curve, elasticity, and flexibility of the spine - the perfect mechanism of hip, knee and ankle joints.
In view of their unique physical and mental development, is it not logical that they should have established themselves as outstanding intellectuals and have been numbered among the "spokes" if they did not really constitute the very "hub" of the "wheel" of civilization?
Unfortunately for us all, their striking lesson seems to have been absolutely lost to modern civilization. What a pity!
With all our progress in many other directions, we still, so far as the harmonious and scientific development of our bodies and minds is concerned, have actually retrograded from their high standards of co-equal development of body and mind. Comparatively speaking, we are today really living in the "jungles of ill health and unhappiness", whereas the ancient days, man was living on the very "mountain tops of actual health and happiness".
The athletic prowess of the Greeks was continually being publicly demonstrated in their splendid and commodious athletic arenas, so that the masses could note the perfect bodies and seek to emulate the athletes.
Their beautifully developed and well-proportioned bodies proved an inspiration to sculptors, who immediately recognized the "living art" before their very eyes and perpetuated it in the unsurpassed marble classical Grecian statues now exhibited in our various world-renowned museums. That is one of the richest of legacies left to us by ancient Grecian civilization.
Truly are they an object lesson to us moderns that we should not overlook. Particularly should our duly constituted health authorities give heed to this lesson in health culture through recognition and practice of the fundamental principles governing "Balance of Body and Mind" in the attainment and maintenance of physical and mental perfection as the Greeks did.
The mode of living prevalent amongst the ancient Greeks was, of course, entirely different from that of today. These people were nature-lovers. They preferred to commune with the very elements of nature itself - the woods, the streams, the rivers, the winds and the sea. All these were natural music, poems and dramas to these Greeks who were so fond of outdoor life.
Their bodies were not unnecessarily burdened with clothing, as we understand it today. They preferred to more or less expose their bodies to the invigorating air and revitalizing rays of the sun, all of which, of course, made it possible for them to achieve their goal of physical and mental perfection to a greater degree than is possible today.
Were our athletes today to pursue the system advocated and practiced by these ancient Greeks, it is confidently predicted that with our present knowledge of "Contrology," they would not only reach the same high standard of physical and mental perfection achieved by the Grecians in their day, but as a matter of fact (incredible as it may seem), would actually surpass it, particularly when we view human nature "en masse" and compare it with the "en masse" standards established in ancient Greece.
The Greeks did not as fully understand the laws governing "Balance of Body and Mind" as it is understood by us today. Were we to discontinue much of our present mode of living and discard our present systems of physical training, and instead, adopt such training as I here advocate, based upon the science of "Contrology," there would result a rejuvenation of mind and body and living itself would again become an art as it was in the days of the ancient Grecians.
Habits of nature, rather than artificial training and exercises, would maintain one in perfect physical and mental condition.
Immediately following, I will explain in brief the general principles underlying "Balance of Body and Mind" - a science to which I have devoted many years' study.
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